TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Medicare Advantage isn’t that great an advantage for seniors compared with traditional Medicare, researchers say. The privatized form of Medicare offers more supplemental benefits than traditional Medicare, including dental, vision and hearing benefits. But many seniors aren’t using those additional benefits, and theirContinue Reading
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs acetaminophen and ibuprofen are better at managing dental pain than opioids. People who had their wisdom teeth removed got better results from an acetaminophen/ibuprofen combo than with a hydrocodone prescription, researchers reported on Jan. 4 in the Journal of theContinue Reading
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) — An existing drug might be able to treat an autoimmune disorder that causes dry eye, dry mouth, fatigue and muscle or joint pain. Baricitinib (Olumiant), a drug currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, appears to effectively curb the symptoms of Sjögren’s disease, accordingContinue Reading
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Ever wonder why your teeth look the way they do? A group of genes drive the shape of each person’s teeth, including at least one gene inherited from Neanderthals, a new study published Dec. 12 in Current Biology found. There are 18 setsContinue Reading
THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Periodontal (gum) disease and diabetes are locked in a grim partnership aimed at undermining your health, experts warn. “Recent research has shown that diabetes is not only a major risk factor for periodontitis but that the relationship between the two conditions is bidirectional,Continue Reading
FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) — The health benefits of fluoridated drinking water may be waning as Americans increasingly turn to using toothpastes and mouthwashes that already contain fluoride, a new review suggests. The research, published Thursday in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, came to that conclusion after analyzingContinue Reading
THURSDAY, Sept. 26, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Bacteria that causes gum disease can also raise a person’s risk of head and neck cancers, a new study says. More than a dozen bacterial species have been linked to a collective 50% increased risk of head and neck cancer, researchers found. “OurContinue Reading
MONDAY, Sept. 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Diabetes can worsen the state of your gums, but a new study suggests that diabetes medications may undo some of that damage. Researchers in Japan found a positive turnaround in markers of gum well-being after people with diabetes received medication. “Promoting collaboration betweenContinue Reading
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 11, 2024 (HealthDay News) — People with diabetes are more prone to gum disease, due to the damage the chronic illness does to small blood vessels, a new study warns. Diabetics who suffer from other diseases caused by small blood vessel damage — diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy — areContinue Reading
SUNDAY, Aug. 18, 2024 (HealthDay News) — As kids head back to school this fall, there is probably one item many parents haven’t thought to put on the to-do list: dental checkups. But they should make sure their children’s teeth are in good shape, said Dr. Natasha Flake, president ofContinue Reading
MONDAY, Aug. 12, 2024 (HealthDay News) — “Extra-hard” chewing gum is being touted on social media as a means of developing a chiseled jawline. This sort of gum is promoted as a gym for “facial fitness,” toning and tightening the muscles around the jaw. But experts say there’s little evidenceContinue Reading
TUESDAY, July 30, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A healthy mouth also means a healthy heart, a new review suggests. People who’ve lost teeth are more likely to die from heart problems – and the more teeth lost, the higher the risk, researchers found. “Our findings clearly show that tooth lossContinue Reading
FRIDAY, July 19, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Looking for a brand new smile? Many people with chipped, worn or indelibly stained teeth may ponder the possibility of veneers. They’re wholly cosmetic, typically aren’t covered by dental insurance and can cost thousands of dollars, so it’s best to understand veneers wellContinue Reading
WEDNESDAY, June 12, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Older women with chronic kidney disease might wind up losing so many teeth they aren’t able to chew and talk effectively, a new study warns. Postmenopausal women with kidney disease are about 40% more likely to have fewer than 20 teeth, the minimumContinue Reading